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Monday, November 9, 2015

Change but not Changing: A Ferguson Challenge

The
other day, I came across a two-frame comic. In the first frame is a politician
like figure standing at a podium in front of a happy crowd of people
each with one hand raised as the politician asks, "Who wants change?"

In
the second frame, it's the same scene, but the politician asks, "Who wants to change?" No
hands are raised. No one looks at the politician or one another.

Everyone
wants change, but no one wants to change.

The
idea, the need, the desire for change was readily apparent during the recent Episcopal
Church Young Adult Pilgrimage to Ferguson, Missouri. Twenty-four other young adults and I, 6-8 staff, and countless guest
speakers, engaged in conversations about racial justice and reconciliation. Indeed, during the pilgrimage we met with many inspiring agents of change. But
what was also apparent, especially in looking out from Ferguson, is a lack of
will to change. We want change, but we're not changing.

Michael
Brown's death was just one of many highly publicized incidents where a white
male police officer shot an unarmed black man. Wrapped up in that event, and in
the protesting and national discourse following it, is such a complicated web
of history and politics and people and perspectives. We dove into that
complicated web during the pilgrimage, exploring multiple aspects of the event
and the aftermath and movement that followed.

Though the pilgrimage
focused on Ferguson as a single example of racial injustice, just one lens to explore
these vast issues, I do not believe the details are what we, as pilgrims, were
meant to take away and share.

After
reflecting for several weeks after the pilgrimage, I have clarified for myself
two primary lingering points from the weekend.

First, each
specific instance of racial injustice is incredibly complicated on a micro
level and in the macro environment. Though the details from Ferguson are
certainly important, it was more important that I gained an understanding of how
multidimensional racial injustice is. Local politics and economy, local
demographics, local churches and social groups unique to Ferguson and St. Louis
all played as much of a role as national trends, regional and national history,
and national politics. Each component is important to fully understanding the
problem, and thus each component is important for creating solutions.

Second, Ferguson
could be anywhere. It could be your home town. There are just as unique circumstances creating
problematic situations there. Your town is not immune to these events. Ferguson
is not just a stagnant place that exists as pictured on TV. It is as dynamic and
as American as where you live.

To emphasize
the second take away from the pilgrimage, I have an activity for you.

Below are
pictures I took from Ferguson, Missouri, specifically the neighborhood, street
and apartment complex where Michel Brown was shot and killed. We visited the
emotional and symbolic site twice. These pictures will show you what it looks
like.

Step 1:

Before
looking at the pictures, try to recall what you can remember about the events
in Ferguson with Michael Brown and Darren Wilson. Think about what happened
there—the tragedy, the scuffle, the gun shots, the protests, the tear gas, the police.

Step 2:

Spend about one minute with each photograph, really looking at it and letting it become
familiar to you. Think about what each photograph reminds you of, and try to picture yourself in the photograph. What are you doing in the photograph?
Playing outside? Walking home? How does that moment feel? Do you feel the sun?
Is the air fresh?

Step 3:

(After the photographs)

For many of you, Ferguson itself is many miles away, separated by air and space. But I would bet, after spending time with these pictures, you might realize you do not have to look far outside your own window to see Ferguson. You may see it in the pavement running by outside, or in the yard between your home and the street, or even in the walls of your home itself.

Ferguson can be any one of our communities. And we reside within our communities. Thus if we want them to change, we must seriously consider what it takes to change ourselves. Think about your own neighborhood. Think about what you want to change in your community. Think about what you know and what you don't know about the people living in your community, or the history and local politics. Finally, think about what you can do to change yourself, and how that can in turn improve the world we share together.